African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Table of Content: 6 June 2011; 10(24)

June 2011

Immune pressure analysis of protease and reverse transcriptase genes of primary HIV-1 subtype C isolates from South Africa

Synonymous (ds) and non-synonymous (dn) substitution rates and their ratios (ds/dn) were analyzed for 33 HIV-1 subtype C protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) nucleotide sequences each from antiretroviral naïve South African chronically infected individuals. The ds/dn ratios were calculated using the synonymous/non-synonymous analysis programme (SNAP). The ds/dn ratio for PR was found to be 5.3801, while for...

Author(s): Pascal O. Bessong and McLaughlin N. Rathogwa      

June 2011

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker efficacy for maize hybrid identification

Knowledge as to genetic diversity and relationships among maize hybrids is important for breeding strategies. The main aims of this study were to (1) estimate molecular genetic diversity among 30 maize hybrids by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers; and (2) compare the genetic relatedness values obtained from these marker types. A set of 30 maize hybrids was assessed. To...

Author(s): Tereza Cholastova, Martina Soldanova and Radovan Pokorny            

June 2011

Cladistic relationships within the genus Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) in Taiwan based on analysis of leaf morphology and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) molecular markers

We examined leaf morphological characteristics, ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeat) genetic polymorphisms and ITS (rDNA internal transcribed spacer) molecular markers in 12 endemic species of Cinnamomum in Taiwan to determine their cladistic relationships. The leaf morphology and ISSR data support the division of the genus into sections Camphora and Cinnamomum. The genetic relationship...

Author(s): Kuen-Yih Ho and Tsz-Yao Hung      

June 2011

Expression of TLP-3 gene without signal peptide in tobacco plants using Agrobacterium mediated transformation

Plants are exploited as a source of food by a wide range of parasites, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects and even other plants. So paying attention to their protection is very important. One of the most important groups of defensive gene is pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. PR proteins are a group of plant proteins which accumulate as a result of different types of pathogens attack. Thaumatin-like...

Author(s): Kamran Safavi, Reza Zareie and Badraldin Ebrahim Sayed Tabatabaie        

June 2011

Genetic diversity of Shaanxi soybean landraces based on agronomic traits and SSR markers

Genetic diversity of a primary core collection of 91 soybean landraces from Shaanxi Province, China, was analyzed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and agronomic traits. A total of 250 alleles were detected in the 91 soybean accessions, with a mean of 7.14 alleles per locus. The mean of polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.26, ranged from 0.11 for Satt184 to 0.60 for Satt242. UPGMA cluster analysis and...

Author(s): Mengjuan Liu#, Minjuan Zhang#, Wei Jiang#, Genlou Sun, Huixian Zhao,and Shengwu Hu,    

June 2011

Rapid identification of the medicinal plant Taraxacum formosanum and distinguishing of this plant from its adulterants by ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) based DNA barcode

Original identification of medicinal plants is essential for quality control. In this study, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) nuclear ribosomal DNA served as a DNA barcode and was amplified by allele-specific PCR. This approach was exploited to differentiate Taraxacum formosanum from five related adulterants. Using a set of designed PCR primers, a highly specific 223 bp PCR product of T....

Author(s): Ying-Chen Chiang#, Wen-Te Chang#, Mann-Duan Chen, Guan-Hua Lai, Hsi-Jien Chen, Jung Chao, Ming-Kuem Lin, Yuan-Shiun Chang , Yu-Mei Chou, Meng-Shiunn Lee  and Meng- Shiou Lee      

June 2011

Effects of grassland management on soil organic carbon density in agro-pastoral zone of Northern China

The objective of this study was to estimate the soil organic carbon (SOC) in grasslands with different management measures including: (1) uncontrolled or free grazing grassland (FG); (2) grassland enclosured, excluding grazing and mowing (EG); (3) grassland enclosured and mowed early in October every year (MG) and (4) grassland enclosured under controlled grazing (CG) by examining soil bulk density and SOC content from...

Author(s): Xu, Min-yun, Wang, Kun and Xie, Fan      

June 2011

The effects of paclobutrazol and daminozide on in vitro micropropagation of some apple (Malus domestica) cultivars and M9-rootstock

This study was carried out to determine the effects of PP 333 and Alar-85 containing0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 ppm on the shoot image density, root image density, primer root number, rooting percentages, adventitious shoot numbers, shoot length and primer root length of apple rootstock-M9 and two apple cultivars (Starking Delicious and Amasya) in in vitro conditions. In vitro propagation of M9,...

Author(s): Kahraman Kepenek and Zuhal KaroÄŸlu          

June 2011

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of paper making process in Iran

Forests play an important role on carbon concentration, unchecked harvesting could cause increase in carbon concentration. In this study, the environmental impact caused by paper production at Pars Paper Factory, Iran, was evaluated using life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The ISO 14040 series were used as references. The functional unit considered was producing one metric tonne of paper for one year. The Centre of...

Author(s): Sotoodehnia Poopak and P. Agamuthu        

June 2011

Comparison of date-palm wastes and perlite as growth substrates on some tomato growing indexes

Today, various organic matters are used as growth media. Most of them are combined with various materials, such as a mixture of peat moss and pine bark, or a mixture of peat moss and pine bark with mineral materials like perlite or vermiculite. All over the world, stone wool and other materials like perlite,...

Author(s): Ahmad Mohammadi Ghehsareh, Najmeh Samadi and Hasan Borji      

June 2011

Effect of season, explants, growth regulators and sugar level on induction and long term maintenance of callus cultures of Ficus religiosa L.

The effects of antioxidant treatments, 2,4-D concentrations and sucrose level were examined in order to optimize the induction and long term maintenance of callus cultures of Ficus religiosa L. from different explants including nodal segments, inter-nodal segments and shoot apices. The explants subjected to incubation for 40 min in antioxidant solution (2% ascorbic acid + 2% citric acid) exhibited maximum...

Author(s): Priyanka Siwach, Anita Rani Gill and Kavita Kumari        

June 2011

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) enhance efficient and eco-friendly production of corn (Zea mays L.) in drought affected areas of northern China

In arid and semiarid regions of northern China, there is an increasing interest in using reduced rate of chemical fertilizer along with water-saving superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for field crop production. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of different rates of SAP (low, 0.75; medium, 11.3 and high, 15.0 kg ha-1) against half amount of conventional standard rate of chemical fertilizer for summer corn (Zea...

Author(s): M. Robiul Islam, , , Xuzhang Xue, Sishuai Mao, Xingbao Zhao, A. Egrinya Eneji and Yuegao Hu    

June 2011

The role of growth regulators, embryo age and genotypes on immature embryo germination and rapid generation advancement in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

One of the most important problem of tomato breeders is lengthy seed to seed cycle in a breeding program. In vitro techiques provide a lot of advantages for breeders. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of growth regulators and immature embryo age on embryo germination and rapid generation advancement in different tomato genotypes. For this purpose, four different tomato genotypes were used....

Author(s): Naif GeboloÄŸlu, Süleyman Bozmaz, Mine Aydin and Perihan Çakmak        

June 2011

Growth and yield of the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) as affected by training system

Modern intensive production of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) tends to planting of high quality cultivars on the dwarfing rootstocks in high density orchards. The most productive training system is used, providing an ideal condition for undisturbed growth and yield. The main objective of this study was to determine the best training system of sweet cherry, considering regular and high yields...

Author(s): Mira Radunić, Anamarija Jazbec, Marija Pecina, Tomislav ÄŒosić and Nikola Pavičić      

June 2011

Isolation and characterization of two novel polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing bacteria

Bioplastics are naturally occurring biodegradable polymers made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) of which poly 3-hydroxy butyric acid (PHB) is the most common. PHB serves as an energy storage molecule and accumulates intracellularly as storage granules in microbes. This work utilized the biodiversity of bacteria to isolate various species from different environments and screen them for their ability to produce PHB....

Author(s): Paramjit Singh and Nitika Parmar      

June 2011

Antioxidant activities of Parquetina nigrescens

The antioxidant activities of different extracts (aqueous, methanol and flavonoid) ofParquetina nigrescens and butylated hydroxyl anisole, as reference compound, were evaluated in terms of scavenging effect, reducing power and inhibition of Fe2+/ascorbate-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation in rat liver. Extracts of P. nigrescens scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) generated radicals in...

Author(s): A. O. Ayoola, O. Akinloye, O. O. Oguntibeju, J. M. Oke and A. A. Odetola      

June 2011

Pseudo-affinity chromatography of rumen microbial cellulase on Sepharose- Cibacron Blue F3GA

Pseudo affinity adsorption of bioproducts on Sepharose-cibacron blue F3-GA was subjected to rumen microbial enzyme evaluation through batch binding and column chromatography of cellulase. The results showed that homogenizing method had better performance in the release of enzyme, so that the amount of enzyme in rumen liquor approximately doubled. Among the preconcentration methods, it was shown that freeze drying and...

Author(s): Mohammad Chamani, Hossein Manafi Rasi, Homayon Ahmad Panahi and Ali Asghar Sadeghi            

June 2011

Determination of antioxidant activity in methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Momordica charantia

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the antioxidant activity of methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Momordica charantia (MC) fruit. In this study, the total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in methanolic and chloroformic were measured by ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Total phenol...

Author(s): Rezaeizadeh A, ABZ Zuki, Abdollahi M, YM Goh, MM Noordin, M Hamidand TI Azmi,        

June 2011

Antimicrobial activity of Berkheya bergiana leaves extracts

The leaves of Berkheya bergiana Soderberg (Asteraceae) were screened for phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential. Phytochemical screening of the crude methanol extract showed the presence of various secondary metabolites.In vitro antimicrobial activities of the extracts obtained from six solvents were carried out against 28 bacterial strains using traditional methods. Chloroform extract...

Author(s): Olukayode M. Odeleye, Adebola O. Oyedeji and Andy R. Opoku